An Experiment Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Carom Seed Oil on reduction of Menstrual Cramps among the Adolescent girls of selected Nursing Colleges, Bangalore

 

Laishram Dabashini Devi, Swapna Mary A

Global College of Nursing, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

*Corresponding Author Email: roshini999.bk@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

Carom seed oil has been found to relieve the menstrual discomfort by relaxing the uterine muscles and decreasing the intra uterine pressure. Leaves and their essence are aromatic, stimulant, carminative and antispasmodic. This is also used in case of vomiting, gastric colic, diarrhea and menstrual cramps. Therefore, it was intended to do an experimental study to examine the effect of Carom seed oil on menstrual cramps with an assumption that this therapy may relieve menstrual cramps. The research design selected for the present study is experimental research design. The study was conducted in the Global College of Nursing at Bangalore. The criteria for the selection of the setting are the availability of subjects, feasibility of conducting the study. The target population in the present study was adolescent girls studying in Global College of Nursing at Bangalore. The sample of this study comprised of 60 adolescent girls. Simple random sampling (Random table number) method was used to draw the sample. A Visual Analogues Scale (VSA) to assess the pain intensity of the students. The findings revealed that in experimental group, majority of the subjects, 24 (80%) had severe pain, 6 (20%) subjects had moderate pain, none had severe pain, and in control group majority of the subjects, 22 (73.3%) had severe pain, 8 (26.6%) subjects had moderate pain, none had pain. After the intervention, in experimental group, majority of the subjects, 24 (80%) had mild pain, 6 (20%) subjects had moderate pain, none had severe and in control group majority of the subjects, 25 (83.3%) had moderate pain, 5 (16.6%) subjects had mild pain and none severe pain. The adolescent girls had reduction in the menstrual cramps as evidenced by the results shown. Hence carom seed oil is effective in the reduction of menstrual cramps and it was found to be less cost effective procedure. Therefore, carom seed oil should be used as a supportive therapy among adolescent girls to alleviate menstrual cramps.

 

KEYWORDS: Carom seed oil, Menstrual cramps, Adolescent girls.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Menstrual cramps is a disorder characterized by lower abdominal pain that occurs during menstruation, but the pain may start 2 or more days before menstruation. It is sometimes associated with headache, nausea, vomiting, diffuse abdominal pain, and backache, general malaise, weakness, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

 

Menstrual cramps are often under treated because physicians are not fully aware of its high prevalence and morbidity. Primary menstrual cramps are generally believed to affect 50% of menstruating women, and some degree of menstrual cramps may be present in as many as 90%. Some women could not have much botheration about it even it interferes with their daily activities and some women are not taking any medications.1 Cakir et all (2007) conducted a study to find out the prevalence of menstrual cramps and its effect on social activities and school attendance among 480 female students between the age group of 9-17 years. The study results show the prevalence of menstrual cramps of 89.5%, 10% of menstrual cramps subjects had severe menstrual cramps and school absenteeism and need to consult a physician were more common in those subject.2

 

OBJECTIVES: 

1.   To assess the level of menstrual cramps in both experimental and control group by conducting pre-test using visual analogue scale.

2.   To assess the level of menstrual cramps among nursing students in experimental group after intervention. 

3.   To compare the post-test visual analogue scale scores among nursing students of both experimental and control group.

 

ASSUMPTIONS:

1. Majority of female nursing students may have menstrual cramps. 

2.   Carom seeds oil may reduce the intensity of menstrual pain among female nursing students. 

 

HYPOTHESIS:

1.     There may be significant difference between pretest and post test score with their demographic variables.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The research design selected for the present study is experimental research design. The study was conducted in the Global College of Nursing at Bangalore. The criteria for the selection of the setting are the availability of subjects, feasibility of conducting the study. The sample of this study comprised of 60 adolescent girls. Simple random sampling (Random table number) method was used to draw the sample. The investigator visited the residence and explained the purposes of study and collected data from the subjects who were interested and willing to participate in the study. They were assured of anonymity and confidentiality.

 

Research variables:

A) Independent variable- Carom seed oil

B) Dependent Variable- Menstrual cramps

Inclusion and exclusion criteria:

a) Inclusion criteria:

·       Adolescent girls who are in the age group 18-24yrs in Global Girls Hostel.

·       Adolescent girls those who have painful menstruation of first 3 days of menstruation.

·       Those who can communicate in Hindi or English.

 

b) Exclusion criteria:

·       Adolescent girl with other gynecological problem.

·       Adolescent girl who have pain for physical ailments.

 

Selection and Development of Instrument:

An instrument is a written device that a researcher uses to collect data. The instrument selected in the research should be as far as possible the vehicle which would be the best for obtaining the data to draw conclusion pertaining to the study.

 

Selection of the Tool:

A Visual Analogues Scale (VSA) to assess the pain intensity of the adolescent girls.

 

Description of tool

Part I: Consists of questions related to demographic data of the students. It includes age, age of menarche, total days of flow, religion, course, diet, previous knowledge and previous used methods.

 

Part II: Consist of pain scale ranging from 0-10 regarding the intensity of pain during menstruation. It is categorized into following headings:

·       No pain (0)

·       Mild pain (1-2)

·       Moderate pain (3-4)

·       Severe pain (5-6)

·       Very severe pain (7-8)

·       Worst pain (9-10)

 

Scoring of the items:

The respondents are asked to tick the pain score according to their pain intensity before and after the experiment.

 

Scoring Interpretation:

The different intensity of pain score ticked by the respondent were categorized into 6 types with respective pain score.

 

RESULT:


Table 1. Demographic variables in Experimental and Control group n=60

S. No

Demographic Variables

Experimental group

Control group

 

 

Frequency

Percentage

Frequency

Percentage

1. 

Age in years

a) 18-19 years

b) 20-21 years

c) 22-23 years

 

7

18

5

 

20

68

16

 

11

14

5

 

36

52

12

2.

Age of menarche

a) 11-12 years

b) 13-14 years

c) 15-16 years

 

8

18

4

 

24

68

8

 

9

14

7

 

28

48

24

3.

Total days of flow

a) 3-4 days

b) 5-6 days

c) 7-8 days

 

11

17

2

 

36

60

4

 

8

20

2

 

24

72

4

4.

Religion

a) Hindu

b) Muslim

c) Christian

 

24

2

4

 

88

4

8

 

20

6

4

 

72

16

12

5.

Course

a) B.Sc. (N)

b) GNM

 

23

7

 

80

20

 

16

14

 

52

48

6.

Diet Pattern

a) Mixed

b) Vegetarian

 

26

4

 

92

8

 

25

5

 

84

16

7.

Previous source of information

a) Book

b) Interest

c) None

 

0

5

25

 

0

12

88

 

4

4

22

 

8

8

84

8.

Previous used method

a) Medicine

b) Hot water bag

c) Ginger solution

d) None

 

10

15

1

4

 

32

56

4

8

 

11

15

0

4

 

36

56

0

8

 

Table indicates that 20% of the experimental group and 36% of control group respondents belong to the age group 18-19 years followed by 68% of experimental groups and 52% of the control group respondents belong to the age group of 20-21 yrs, followed by 16% of experimental group and 12% of control group respondents belong to the age group of 22-23 yrs. 68% of the experimental group and 52% of the control group respondent belong to the 20-21yrs. 24% of the experimental group and 28% of the control group respondent belong to the age of menarche 11-12yrs followed by 68% of  the experimental group and 48% of the control group belong to the age of menarche 13-14 yrs followed by 8% of the experimental group and 24% of the control group respondent belong to  the age of menarche of 15-16 yrs. Total days of flow within 3-4 days is 36% of experimental group and 24% of the control group and followed by total days of flow within 5-6 days is 60% of experimental group and 72% of the control group followed by total days of flow within 7-8 days is 4% of experimental groups and 4% of control groups. 88% of the experimental group and 72% of the control group respondent belong to the Hindu religion followed by 4% of the experimental group and 16% of the control group respondent belong to Muslim religion followed by 8% of the experimental group and 12% of the control group respondent belong to the Christian religion. 80%of experimental group and 52%of control group respondents belong from BSc followed by 20% of experimental group and 48%of control group respondents belong from GNM. 92%of experimental group and 86%control group respondents belong to vegetarian diet pattern followed by 8%of experimental group and 16% Of control group belong to the mix diet pattern. None of the respondents of experimental group and 8%of control group respondents belong to the group who got information from book followed by, 12%of experimental group and 8%of control group respondents belong to the group who got information from the internet, followed by 88%of experimental group and 84%ofcontrol group belongs to the group who don’t have any information.32%of experimental group and 36%of control group respondents use medicine followed by 56%of the control group respondents use hot water bag followed by 4% of the experimental group and none of the control group use ginger water followed by 8%of  the experimental group and 6%of the control group respondents use no any method for controlling menstrual pain.

 

Table -2: Frequency and percentage distribution of adolescent girls according to the pre-test score of menstrual cramps in both experimental and control group. n=60

Sl. No

Pre-test menstrual cramps

Experimental group

Control group

Frequency

Percentage

Frequency

Percentage

1

Mild pain (1-3)

0

0

0

0

2

Moderate pain (4-6)

6

20

8

26.6

3

Severe pain (7-10)

24

80

22

73.3

 

Overall

30

100

30

100

 

Table - 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of adolescent girls according to the post-test score of menstrual cramps in both experimental and control group. n=60

Sl. No

Post-test menstrual cramps

Experimental group

Control group

Frequency

Percentage

Frequency

Percentage

1

Mild pain (1-3)

24

80

5

16.6

2

Moderate pain (4-6)

6

20

25

83.3

3

Severe pain (7-10)

0

0

0

0

 

Overall

30

100

30

100

 

The above table showed the distribution of menstrual cramps among adolescent girls before the intervention. It revealed that in pre test, in experimental group, majority of the subjects, 24(80%) had severe pain, 6(20%) subjects had moderate pain, and in control group majority of the subjects, 22(73.3%) had severe pain, 8 (26.6%) subjects had moderate pain.

 

The above table 3 showed the distribution of menstrual cramps among adolescent girls after the intervention. It revealed that in post-test, in experimental group, majority of the subjects, 24(80%) had mild pain, 6(20%) subjects had moderate pain, none had severe pain and in control group majority of the subjects, 25(83.3%) had moderate pain, 5(16.6%) subjects had mild pain, none had severe pain.

 

CONCLUSION:

The adolescent girls had reduction in the menstrual cramps as evidenced by the results shown. Hence carom seed oil is effective in the reduction of menstrual cramps and it was found to be less cost effective procedure. Therefore, carom seed oil should be used as a supportive therapy among adolescent girls to alleviate menstrual cramps.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Marlow DR, Redding BA. Marlow’s textbook of pediatric Nursing.6th edition New Delhi.Reed Elsevier India Private limited;2013:928

2.      Pal P. Textbook of Pediatric Nursing. 1st edition Hyderabad. Paras Medical Publishers; 2016:86

3.      Olyai R, Dutta DK. Recent advances in adolescent health. New Delhi: Jaypee brothers medical publishers; 2011. 119- 125.

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 03.08.2022         Modified on 10.09.2022

Accepted on 14.10.2022        ©A&V Publications All right reserved

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2022; 12(4):387-390.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2022.00081